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Monday, May 23, 2016

Treasure Trove takes over Bloom space for temporary 'sidewalk sale'

The former Bloom store in the Annandale Shopping Center remains empty since the grocery store closed in winter 2012. There are still no plans for a new occupant, but at least the space is sometimes put to good use, reports a volunteer with the Treasure Trove shop.

An emptystore was transformed into a temporary Treasure Trove annex. [Anne Lewis]

By Anne Lewis

The Annandale Treasure Trove at 7010 Columbia Pike wanted to run a sidewalk sale this past weekend, but Mother Nature refused to cooperate. So the owner of the empty building next door agreed to make lemons into lemonade.

On Saturday and Sunday, the Treasure Trove, a thrift/consignment shop that benefits Inova Fairfax Hospital, held a “make your home beautiful” event in the old Bloom space. To sweeten the lemonade, store manager Jodi Skrobecki offered 20 percent off on furniture, framed art, rugs, and lamps.

“It was a wonderful surprise to be able to set up so many furniture displays,” Skrobecki said. The large windows in the foyer of the vacant building made it the perfect venue to showcase home furnishings.

Many of the consigners have vintage, antique, and one-of-a-kind pieces, so loyal Treasure Trove customers were thrilled with the chance to see so many high-end pieces and get a discount, as well.

The comments I heard over and over this weekend were what a great idea to share the space with the Treasure Trove and how nice it was to see that empty space being used. Some shoppers suggested using the vacant building for a farmers’ market-type operation with vendors selling handmade crafts and home-grown produce.

In the past few years, the shopping center owner has also let Treasure Trove store furniture in the old Bloom building many times. Treasure Trove has used the space to store large items until the purchasers can pick them up and to store donated or consigned pieces until they can be properly displayed in the shop.

Skrobecki is hoping for good weather so she can offer a real sidewalk sale outdoors with clothing and other items, as well as furniture. Perhaps she could include a lemonade stand. Any young entrepreneurs out there?

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